New legislation should make dogs in a section of Australia happy, notes Grumpy Editor.
The Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill, which became law on Thursday, calls for strict penalties to dog owners in efforts to improve animal welfare.
Canine owners can be fined up to $2,700 (AU$4,000) if they don’t walk their pets at least once a day.
Owners also face fines if they fail to provide basics like shelter, food and water.
Those who confine dogs for 24 hours must also allow them to move freely for the next two hours or face prosecution.
The legislation centers on the Australian Capital Territory that contains Canberra, Australia's capital city and surrounding areas.
The territory is the first jurisdiction in Australia to recognize animal sentience.
"Modern animal welfare is about considering how an animal is coping both mentally and physically with the conditions in which it lives,” points out an official.
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